Furyk storms up leaderboard

American Jim Furyk is running into form just in time for the Ryder Cup.

Furyk, known more for being steady than for bringing courses to their knees, displayed more than an occasional flash of brilliance to shoot a course-record eight-under-par 62 in the second round at the BMW Championship yesterday morning.

After a short break, he went out and followed it up with a third-round 66, earning a share of the lead with Colombian Camilo Villegas at Bellerive.

Furyk was at 12-under 198, while Villegas, who was among 23 players unable to complete the third round, negotiated 13 holes before play was halted for the day in fading light.

They headed journeyman Brian Gay (15 holes) by two strokes, with Anthony Kim (17 holes) another shot back.

Furyk will enjoy a nice lie-in while his closest pursuers are up before dawn for the 7.30am resumption, which could prove a crucial advantage.

“I tried to pace myself all day, knowing we were going to be out there for 36 holes,” Furyk said.

“My goal was to play two solid rounds. It was solid all day, but that one nine holes really leap-frogged me from nowhere to close to the lead.”

He was referring to his back nine in the second round, when he stormed home in 28 strokes, making birdies at his final five holes.

Furyk did not finish the third round quite as well, bogeying the final hole, but was hardly in a mood to complain after knocking in a five-footer to avoid dropping two shots.

“I still walk away in a positive frame of mind,” he said. “I went at the pin with a wedge and it didn’t work out.

“It’s easy to make a mental mistake when you’re tired, when your mind wanders for a little bit. All of a sudden you think ’what was I doing there? What was I thinking at that moment’?”

Furyk has not won this year, but that does not mean he has played badly.

“My putting has been a little inconsistent and earlier in the year my driver was a little inconsistent too,” he said.

Villegas, meanwhile, had no complaints about the late finish and early start. “We knew we weren’t going to finish, so you just prepare yourself mentally and come back in the morning,” he said.

“I’m enjoying playing golf right now. I’m rolling in some great putts and I’m excited about tomorrow.”

Sergio Garcia headed a disappointing European contingent, seven strokes off the pace after a 69.

The highlight of his day was a hole-in-one at the third hole during the second round, when he used a five-iron from 205 yards to record the first ace of his career.

Irishman Padraig Harrington was near the tail of the field, 14 strokes behind after a 72 that included only one birdie.

Officials had hoped to complete two rounds yesterday to make up for Thursday’s washout, but a 90-minute morning fog delay was the reason 23 players did not finish the third round.